Toothache And Other Dental Problems – What To Do First?

Acting quickly can help our Bedford patients avoid additional suffering and more severe problems.

When things are going well, we tend to approach our next dental check up with no problems, and no real concerns that any issues will be found following the examination. When things run smoothly like this, most of us are happy and content. Sometimes though, dental problems strike us completely out of the blue.

Things don’t always run smoothly. We might wake up with a throbbing toothache, or bite into something, only to hear a sickening crunching feeling as a piece breaks away from a tooth. Fillings can fall out, and, of course, accidents can come out of nowhere, sometimes damaging a tooth.

Especially where any breakage is small or a toothache manageable, some people might be tempted to put off doing anything about it until their next routine appointment. Doing so can lead to further problems though, and calling The Dental Centre Bedford to arrange an emergency dental appointment is the sensible and practical thing to do.

Toothache

Even nervous dental patients tend to contact us for an appointment when a toothache is severe. This isn’t always the case for all patients though, especially when the discomfort is not so significant. A mild throbbing perhaps or a niggling feeling that something isn’t right can make us reach for the painkillers and go about our life, leaving it until it gets worse or a check up appointment is due. Tooth decay is unlikely to remain as it is though and will progressively worsen, with the cavity becoming larger. Not only will this require a larger filling, or perhaps a crown, where a small filling would have sufficed if dealt with soon enough, but it could lead to the root canals of your teeth becoming infected and requiring a root canal procedure. Any sign of discomfort should be investigated by a dentist as soon as possible.

Abscess

If you notice swelling of the gum or face, it could be an abscess. This might also be accompanied by a foul taste in the mouth. Please do not ignore this and seek emergency care immediately. Infections such as this can spread throughout the body and cause serious health issues.

Breakages

If a tooth shatters, prompt treatment is usually sought. If the breakage is smaller though, we might delay contacting the dentist to have it treated. Even if the breakage is relatively smooth and causes no discomfort or has any sharp edges that cut into your cheek, tongue or lips, it needs prompt treatment. In addition to any bacteria that could enter the tooth, a broken or cracked tooth is likely to have been weakened and further damage could be just a few bites away.

Loose teeth

If a tooth is loose, it may well not be long before it falls out, leaving you with the decision of whether to replace it with a partial denture or a dental implant. If a tooth becomes loose, tooth loss is not inevitable if you address the problem promptly. There can be a number of reasons for this with one of the more likely being gum disease. In its advanced stage (periodontitis), this can affect the bone and cause it to degrade, loosening its hold on the root of the tooth. You should make an appointment with the dentist who will advise you either to see the hygienist or to have a ‘deep clean’, a more invasive treatment, in order to try to save the tooth. Delaying doing this may make it too late to save it and tooth loss can easily follow.

Crown detachment or loose filling

Teeth restorations usually last for a long time before needing to be replaced or restored. Very occasionally though, they can fail prematurely. In the case of crowns, they may become detached, especially if the adhesive has started to become less effective, combined perhaps, with the patient eating, for example, sticky toffees that pull at it. Should this happen, it is important that you do not reattach it yourself. We use a special clinical adhesive at our Bedford practice that is designed for this purpose. General adhesives often contain corrosive ingredients that can damage your tooth and cause even more problems.

A loose filling is not only likely to fall out but will inevitably create gaps that bacteria can enter, causing further decay. Make sure to contact us as soon as you notice this, or anything similar.

Any dental issue should be taken seriously and we strongly recommend that you contact us for advice as soon as you notice anything. We will ask you the nature of the problem and book an appropriate appointment for you. Naturally, we will prioritise any that are causing severe distress to the patient and we will be able to offer advice on how to manage the problem until your appointment time.

For emergency or general appointments, you can contact us by calling The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.